Don’t Abort Your Dream
Scripture:
7: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8: Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6 (NIV)
Gestation periods, the time between conception and birth, vary greatly across the animal kingdom, with some species gestating for just a few weeks while others carry their young for over a year. The duration is influenced by factors like the animal's size, the type of offspring, and environmental conditions. Regardless of the gestation period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 97% of pregnancies in the United States result in a live birth. This means that about 3% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth.
Children of the Most High God are pregnant with purpose! That’s why they are here. God has a purpose and a plan for each of their lives. Yet many spend their entire lives searching for it, praying about it, worrying over it, and never fully realizing what it is—not because God isn’t speaking to them about it, but because they are distracted by life and not recognizing it. But God expects His disciples to properly nurture that purpose, carrying it to full term, until He lets them know it is time to deliver.
Quite often, God will anoint a person for a calling long before He appoints them to that position. Why is that? Sometimes, God is preparing the position for them. There is a need, and He has uniquely prepared someone to fulfill that need. Think about Moses, Joseph, Gideon, Esther, Mary, and Jesus. At other times, God is preparing the person for the position. Think again about Moses, Joseph, Gideon, Esther, Mary, and Jesus.
Because God knows all things, He knows who is the right fit for what He needs done. But His knowing is not the same as their knowing. People must experience life to be prepared to do that thing only they can do. They may have opportunities to hang out in the king’s house or tend sheep in the desert. Maybe they need to spend time in prison (literally or figuratively) to learn their own character. They may need to hear others speak about what they think they are capable of before they believe it themselves.
Whatever the situation may be, don’t be discouraged when the appointment does not immediately follow the anointing. Wait on God’s timing, but keep doing the work to prepare to level up. King David is a great example to emulate. He was anointed to be king of Israel at approximately age 13, but it was 17 years later before he was appointed to the position and crowned king. During those long years of waiting, he kept tending the sheep and serving the then-king, Saul. He was faithful in all his roles until God called him from serving the king to being the king.
When someone feels they are not walking in their purpose, they probably are! It just doesn’t look like what they thought it would look like. Keep following God and faithfully working in His Kingdom. When the time is right, the appointment to the thing for which they have been anointed will happen. They will know when it’s time to push!
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift of Your anointing. You equip us. You empower us. And You deploy us. Help us not to run ahead of You, but instead, to follow after You so that we are led into purpose. We are filled with possibility. Help us to patiently show that we are worthy of that responsibility by continuing to faithfully work right where we are. Greater is coming, and it is best received when we are in alignment with Your perfect will for our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection:
“We are anointed for our assignment on earth because the anointed King lives in us – He is fulfilling His will through us.” E. N. Supen, Kingdom Lifestyle Quotes